Winding device for spring-motors.



J. W. JONES.

WINDENG DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS.

APPLICATION FlLEB IAN-Z6. 1915.

Patented June 4, 1918.

TEE %TATE% FATENT @FFTQE.

JOSEPH w. JONES,

OF PELHAM, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JONES MOTROLA, INC., 01?

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING-MOTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. JONES, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pelham, Westchester county, New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Winding Devices for Spring-Motors, whichinvention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention directed to the provision of means whereby a spring-motoris maintained under operative tension at all times.

The invention consists primarily in the combination with a spring-motorof an electric-motor and means whereby the latter automatically windsthe spring-motor under pre-determined conditions and ceases when woundto a predetermined condition, thus maintaining the spring-motor inconstant condition for use. 'One feature of the invention consists ofmeans for automatically stopping the winding operation when the springhas been sufiiciently wound up; another feature consists of means forrestarting the winding operation when the spring has run down to a pointwhere rewinding may be deemed desirable. Other features of the inventionare hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety ofmechanical expressi0ns,'0ne of which, for the purpose of illustratingthe invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to beexpressly understood that such drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not meant to define the limits of theinvention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

In the drawings v Figure 1 is a side view of a graphophone cabinethaving the new winding-device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, and partly in vertical section, ing-deviceitself;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in vertical section, viewed from the leftof Fig.- 2;

Fig. 4 indicates, position of the switch at the top of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, and Fig. 6 a transverse section, on asmaller scale, of a modification.

on a larger scale,

of the windon a larger scale, another Referring to the drawings, inwhich like reference-numerals designate like parts In the severalfigures, 1 represents the casing groove presented by the lower end ofthe Shaft 7 is suitably journaled in the frame 4, and is threaded, at 8,to operate shaft 7.

as a worm to drive the worm-gear 9 which is connected to shaft 10 by apawl and ratchet. The end of shaft 10 is adaptedto engage and rotate theshaft of the spring.- motor of the graphophone.

Around the upper end of shaft 7 the opening in the frame is enlarged toreceive the flange 11, on the shaft 7, andthe thrustbearing 12, whichlatter is held yieldingly in position by the spring 13. The other end ofthe spring 1.3 is kept in place by the screw-ring 14 at the top of theenlargement.

At the upper end of frame 4 is an enlarged chamber to receive into thetop of the frame is secured a closure or cap 15 which serves as asupport for the two binding-posts and their respective terminals 16 and17. 18 represents the wires leading to these terminals, and having anysuitable connection with the electric-motor, for example, as shown inFig. 2. Depending from the terminal 16 is a bracket 19. 20 is an elbowpivoted at 21 to the lower end of the bracket 19. 22 is a contact-piecejournaled at its lower end on pivot 21. The upper end of piece 22 is atall-times in contact with terminal 16,preferably through aroller-bearing 23 to permit of greater ease in operation. sents a slotor cam 24: which engages a stud 25 carried by the upper end of the elbow20. 26 is a spring with suflicient tension to hold elbow 20 at all timesin contact with the upper end of shaft 7.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the spring-motor tobe in need of winding and the parts in position as shown in Fig.2, thecurrent is turned on through the wires 18, the electric motor isenergized, the shaft 7 is made to revolve 1n the switch, and p Thecenter of piece 22 preto overcome the force of spring 13 to such adegree that shaft 7 is raised suiiiciently to throw the elbow 20 andthereby force the piece 22 out of contact with terminal 17 (from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4:), thus breaking thecircuit and cutting off the current from the motor. The parts are soproportioned and adjusted that even when shaft 7 is raised to itsuppermost position and sufliciently to throw the switch, the groove atits lower end is still in engagement with the tongue 6.

When the spring-motor has been used sufiiciently to unwind its spring toa point where its resistance on the gear 89 is less than the forceexerted by the (then) compressed spring 13, then the spring 13 graduallyforces the shaft 7 downward. The elbow 20, because of its spring 26,follows the shaft; and, as the shaft continues to' descend, the piece 22is engaged .with the terminal 17. When the contact is made the circuitis completed and current is again admitted to the motor. Thereupon, theelectric-motor being put in operation, the springmotor is again wound,through the gear 8-9, and so on.

The slot 24. in the piece 22 is not necessary, but it is a preferredform of construction; by its use the shaft 7 may be slightly raised andthe elbow 20 moved in proportion before the elbow, through its stud 25,begins to throw the piece 22 out of contact with the terminal 17 ,-thisinsures the tight Winding of the spring-motor before the shaft 7 reachesthe uppermost point of its travel when the circuit is broken, and italso permits the operation of the parts to be less abrupt. The use ofslot 2& also permits the shaft 7 to descend to approximately itslowermost position before the circuit is completed and the electricmotor started.

There are three phases of operation: 1) when the spring-motor is beingwound, the parts 89 act as an ordinary worm and worm-gear; (2) when thespring-motor is wound sufficiently tight, the parts 89 act asa screw anda stationary partial nut; and (3) when the shaft 7 is returning to itswinding position, the parts 89 act as a rack and pinion.

Owing to the speed of revolution of shaft 7, it is preferable to makethe worm-gear 9 of a considerable diameter in order that thespring-motor may not be wound too rapidly. When it is desired to havethe device more compact than would be permitted by the use of a largeworm-gear 9, or if it is desired to have the springqnotor wound evenmore slowly, reduction-gearing may be used, such as shown in Figs. 5 and6. In this lastnamed construction the worm-gear 27 carries a pinion 28in mesh with a larger gear 29 keyed on the winding-shaft 30.

In Fig. 1 the winding-device is shown in connection with a graphophone.It is obvious that the device may be built into the graphophone in thefirst instance; or it may be used in connection with a machine carryinga manually-wound spring-motor by securing to the shaft of the spring (inplace of the usual crank-handle) a second shaft carrying'a worm-gearsuitable for meshing with the Worm 8. If the device be put tothislast-named use, it may be preferable to have the electric-motor rest onthe floor, in which case the armature shaft of said motor may beconnected to the shaft 7 by means of a flexible shaft. This latterconstruction is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 where the motor isdesignated 31 and the flexible shaft 32. g

If desired, the end of shaft 10 of the spring-motor may be squared, asat 33 in Fig. 3, to receive a crank-handle by which the spring-motor maybe manually wound when desired.

The frame 4 is reversible so that the shaft 7 mayoccupy a position uponeither side of the shaft 10 and may be secured in its position byinserting the screws 5 through the frame in either direction, thusaccommodating the device to spring motors wound in either direction.

The invention has been described with some detail, but only for the sakeof clear-.

certain of the parts can be transposed, without departing fromthe'spirit of the invention defined. For example, although the foregoingdescription names specifically an electric-motor, yet it is manifest anyprime motor would be the equivalent therefor.

The following is claimed:

1. A winding attachment for the spring 7 motor of atalking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, awinding motor in said casing, gearing between saidwinding motor and said shaft including a worm gear and a longitudinallymovable worm, and means operated by the longitudinal movement of mamassaid worm for starting and stopping said winding motor.

2. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried therebyv and adapted. to be connected with the windingarbor of said motor, an electric motor in said casing, a switch forstarting and stopping said motor, and gearing between said electricmotor and said shaft including a worm and a worm gear, said worm beinglongitudinally movable under different tensions of the spring-motorspring to open and close said switch.

3. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the windingarborof said motor, an electric motor in said casing connected with saidshaft and adapted to rotate the same, a switch for starting and stoppingsaid motor, and means operated by predetermined changes of tension ofthe spring-motor spring for opening and closing said switch.

4:. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talk ing machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, a winding motor in said casing connected with said shaftand adapted to rotate the same, and means operated by predeterminedchanges in tension.

of the springmotor spring to start and stop said winding motor.

5. A Winding attachment/for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machlne, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, a winding motor in said casing, gearing between saidwinding motor and said shaft including a worm gear and a worm adapted tobe moved longitudinally, means opposing movement of said worm, and meansfor stopping said winding motor operated by the movement of said worm asthe opposition of said last-named means is overcome.

6. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted 'to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted .to be connected with the windingarbor of said motor, a winding motor in said casing, gearing betweensaid winding motor and said shaft including a worm gear and a worm urgedin one direction by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means formoving said worm in the opposite direction, and means for starting saidwinding motor operated by the movement of said worm as the tension ofthe spring-motor 7 said worm, said worm moving longitudinally to openand close said switch as the tension of the spring-motor spring exceedsor is less than the opposition of said lastnamed means to the movementof said worm.

8. A winding attachment for the springmotor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, a winding motor in said casing connected with said shaftand adapted to rotate the same and means operated by a decrease intension of the spring-motoi spring to start said winding motor.

9. A winding attachment for the spring- I motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, a winding motor in said casing connected with said'shaftand adapted to rotate the same, and means operated by an increase intension ofthe springmotor spring to stop said winding motor.

10. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor, a winding motor in said casing connected with said shaftand adapted to rotate the same, an element adapted to be moved in onedirection by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means for movingsaid element in the opposite direction, and means operated by themovement of said element for starting and stopping said winding motor.

-11. A winding attachment for the spring motor of a talking machinecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the talking machine, ashaft carried thereby and adapted to be connected with the winding arborof said motor. an electric motor in said casing connected with saidshaft and adapted to rotate the same, an element adapted to be moved inone direction by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means formoving said element in the opposite direction, and a said casing tostart and stop saidwinding motor.

13. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor,gearing between said winding motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor including a longitudinally movable worm and a worm wheel, meansoperated by the longitudinal movement of said worm for starting andstopping the winding motor, and means whereby a predetermined change inthe tension of the spring-motor spring will-occur before said startingand stopping means is operated.

14:. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor,gearing between said electric motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor including a worm wheel and a worm longitudinally movable underdifferent tensions of the spring-motor spring, a switch in the circuitof said electric motor adapted to be opened and closed by thelongitudinal movement of said worm, and means whereby a predeterminedchange in the tension of the spring-motor spring will occur before saidswitch is operated.

15. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor,connections between said electric motor and the winding arbor of thespring motor, a switch in the Circuit of said electric motor, meansoperated by a change in the tension of the spring-motor spring foropening and closing said switch, and means whereby a predeterminedchange in the tension of said spring will occur before said switch isoperated. I

16. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor,connections between said winding motor and the winding arbor of thespring motor, means operated by a change in the tension of thespring-motor spring for starting and stopping said winding motor, andmeans whereby a predetermined change in the tension of said spring willoccur before said last-named means is operated to start orstop saidwinding motor.

17. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor,gearing between said winding motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor-including a worm wheel and a worm'adapted to be movedlongitudinally, means opposlng movement of said worm, means for stoppingsaid winding motor as the opposition of said lastnamed means isovercome, and means whereby a predetermined change in the tension of thespring-motor spring will occur before said stopping means is operated.

18. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor,gearing between said winding motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor including a worm wheel and a worm urged in one direction by thetension of the spring-motor spring, means for movingsaid worm in theopposite direction, means for starting said winding motor operated bythe movement of said worm as the tension of the spring-motor spring isovercome by said last-named means, and means whereby a predeterminedchange in the tension of the spring-motor spring will occur before saidstarting means is operated.

19. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor,gearing between said electric motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor including a worm wheel and a worm adapted to be movedlongitudinally by the tension of the springmotor spring, a springopposing movement of said worm, a switch in the circuit of said electricmotor opened and closed by the movement of said worm as the tension ofthe spring-motor spring is greater or less than the tension of saidlast-named spring, and means whereby a predetermined change in thetension of the spring-motor spring will occur before said switch isoperated.

20. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motorconnected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, an element adaptedto be moved by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means opposingmovement of said element, a switch in the circuit of said electric motoropened and closed by the movement of said element as the tension of thespring-motor spring is greater or less than the opposition of saidlast-named means, and means whereby a predetermined change in thetension of the spring-motor spring will occur before said switch isoperated.

21. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motorconnected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, an element adaptedto be moved by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means opposingmovement of said element, means for stopping said winding motor operatedby the movement of said element as the tension of the spring-motorspring overcomes the opposition of said last-named means,.and meanswhereby a predetermined change in the tension of the spring-motor springwill occur before said winding motor is stopped.

22. A winding device for spring motors III comprising a winding motorconnected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, an element urged inone sion of the spring-motor spring, means for moving said element inthe opposite direction, means for starting said winding motor operatedby the movement of said element as the tension of the spring-motorspring is overcome by said last-named means, and means whereby apredetermined change in the tension of the spring-motor spring willoccur before said winding motor is started.

23. A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor,connections between said motor and the winding arbor of the springmotor, means for stopping the winding motor operated by the tension ofthe spring-motor spring, means for starting said winding motor, andmeans whereby a predetermined change springanotor spring will occurbefore said winding motor is stopped.

24. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor, aswitch in the circuit of said electric motor, connections between saidelectric motor and the winding arbor of the spring motor, means operatedby the tension of the spring-motor spring to operate said switch, andmeans whereby a predetermined change in the tension of the spring-motorspring will occur before said switch is operated.

A winding device for spring motors comprising a winding motor adapted tobe connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, an elementadapted to be moved by the tension of the spring-motor spring, means foropposing movement of said element, means operated by said element forstarting and stoppingthe winding operation as the tension of thespring-motor spring is less or greater than the opposition of saidlast-named means, and means direction by the ten in the tension of the 7whereby a predetermined change in the tension of the spring-motor springwill occur before the winding operation is started or stopped.

26. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motorhaving a rotary-armature shaft, gearing between said shaft and thewinding arbor of the spring motor including a worm wheel and a Wormcoaxial with said shaft and adapted to be moved longitudinally by thetension of the spring-motor spring, and a switch in the circuit of theelectric motor operated by the movement of said worm.

27. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motorhaving a r0- tary-armature shaft, gearing between said shaft and thewinding arbor of the spring motor including a worm Wheel and a wormadapted to be moved longitudinally by the tension of the spring-motorspring, means opposing movement of said worm, and a switch in thecircuit of said'electric motor opened and closed by the movement of saidworm as the tension of the spring motor spring is greater or less thanthe opposition of said last-named means.

28. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motorhaving a rotary-armature shaft connected to the Winding arbor of thespring motor, an element adapted to be moved by the tension of thespring-motor spring, means for moving said element in the oppositedirection, and a switch in the circuit of said electric motor opened andclosed by the movement of-said' element.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH Jones. Witnesses G. A. L. MASSIE, RALPH L. Soo'r'r.

